Valve-spring-retaining device



Sept. 22. I925 F. C. NICKOL VALVE SPRING RETAINING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1925 w 4 im /way Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK C. NICKOL, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

VALVE-SPRING-RETAINING DEVICE.

Application filed February 2, 1925.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. NICKOL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Spring Retaining Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to valve spring retaining devices, such as are commonly employed in connection with internal combustion engines for the purpose of retaining the actuating springs for the valves on the valve stems and under compression.

The ordinary retaining device consists merely of a washer which forms a support for the lower end of the spring and is slipped over the valve stem and retained thereon by a pin inserted through an opening in the stem, the washer usually having a recess in its lower surface to receive the pinand hold the same against displacement. To apply such a device to the valve stem it is necessary that the valve should be held against vertical movement, the spring and washer placed upon the valve stem and the spring compressed and heldunder compression while the pin is inserted through the opening in the valve stem. This is rather a difficult operation and usually requires considerable time for its completion.

One object of the invention is to provide a valve spring retaining device of this character which can be quickly and easily ap plied to the valve stem or disconnected therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which will be held in positive engagement with the valve stem and which will not be disconnected therefrom by the operative movement of the valve stem or by any jar or vibration to which that stem may be subjected.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which will be very simple in its construction and which may be produced at a very low cost.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail. 1

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the valve chamber of an internal combustion engine and showing my invention applied to the stem of the valve; Fig. 2 is an endele- Serial No. 6,295.

vation of the retaining device showing the same applied to the valve stem; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. l is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the retaining device showing the same applied to the valve stem; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is an end View of the retaining device showing the parts separated to disconnect the same from the valve stem; In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a valve of a well known type but it will be understood that the invention may take various forms and may be applied to valves of various kinds.

In that embodiment of the invention here illustrated I have shown the same as applied to the valve stem 1 of an ordinary type valve 2, which is slidably mounted in a vertical hearing or guideway 3 carried by the cylinder block 4. i The stem 1 of the valve extends for a considerable distance below its bearing and a coil spring 5 encircles this stem and is confined between the lower part of the bearing, or that part of the engine in which the bearing is formed, and the retaining device which is secured to the lower portion of the stem. The retaining device as here shown comprises a disk or washer which forms a support for the spring and is divided diametrically into two similar parts, theseparts being in the present instance, substantially semi-circular in shape, as shown at 6 in Fig. 3. The retaining device as a whole is preferably formed from sheet metal and I prefer to construct the same by forming the disk and its associated parts from a blank of sheet metal and then dividing the same diametrically into two parts. The body or transverse portion of the disk or washer, which constitutes a support for the spring, is preferably recessed in its lower side, by pressing the central portion of the same upward, so as to give the same substantially a concavo-conveX shape. The adjacent edges of the semi-circular members 6 are provided with recesses opposed one to the other and adapted to receive the valve stem. Each member 6 is provided adjacent to the recess, with a part adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a stop on the valve stem. In the present device, this stop is in the form of a shoulder? which is formed on thestem by providing the latter with a circumferential flange 8 near the lower end thereof. In the device here shown, the metal which is dis placed to form the recesses in the edges of the two members 6 is pressed downwardly and drawn out to form depending flanges 9, which are of such a width that they will enter the groove 8 in the valve stem so that the lower edges thereof may engage the stop 7 on the valve stem. The transverse portion of each member of the washer slopes downwardly and outwardly toward the peripheral edge thereof, and this edge is turned upwardly, as shown at 10, to form a seat for the valve spring The two parts of the washer are connected one to the other and are capable of relative movement to permit the same to be moved into and out of en gagement with the stop on the valve stem and the arrangement is such that the pressure of the spring 5 on the two parts of the washer will force the same into firm engagementwith the stop on the stem and re tain the same in that position until they are positively actuated to disconnect the washer from the stem and permit. the ,re moval of the spring. Preferably the two parts of the washer are pivotally connected one to the other at points some distance above the level of the. washer. To this end each member of the washer is provided at its opposite ends with an upwardly extending lug or car 11 which is preferably formed integral with the member itself. The corresponding ears on the two members, that is, the ears carried by the adjacent ends of the two members, are opposed one to the other and have parts which contact one with the other and constitute a fulcrum about which the two parts may move. A suitable connecting member is provided to retain the two members in contact one with the other but is of such a character that it will not prevent their pivotal movement about said fulcrnms. In the present arrangement the adjacent edges of the corresponding lugs or ears 11 abut one against the other at a point spaced some distance from the upper ends thereof and the upper portions of these edges are cut away or flared, as shown at 12, so as to permit the two parts of the washer to swing outwardly about the point of contact between the edges of the two ears. Each ear is provided with a vertical slot 13 near its outer end and above the. fulcrum. and the connecting member is shown in the form of a flat clip 14%, the end portions of which are extended through the openings 13 and then bent over to permanently but pivotally connect them with the respective ears. The width of the slots 13 is greater than the thickness of the metal from which the clip is formed so that the ends of the ears may have movement with relation to the clip to permit the pivotal movement thereof. To

facilitate the disconnection of the retaining device from the stem the lower portions of the ears 11, below the fulcrum point, are cut away to provide a recess or space 15 adapted to receive the bit of a screw driver, or other suitable implement, which may be inserted between the lower portions of the ears and manipulated to spread the same apart and move the parts 9 thereof out of engagen'ient with the shoulder on the stem, this movement being; permitted by the pivotal connections between the corresponding cars. This connection while serving to permanent-1y conn ct the two parts of the device one to the other and to hold the same against substantially axial displacement with relation one to the other will nevertheless permit of the free pivotal movement thereof.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description the retaining device is very simple in its construction, comprises but few parts and is of such a character that it can he produced at a very low cost by stamping the same from sheet metal. To install the device on the valve stem it is only necessary to seat the valve on the washer within the space between the cars 11 and then place the "ing and etaining device about the valve 0: m. hold thev valve against upward moven'ient with one hand and exert upward pressure on the retaining device with the other hand. thus compressing the spring and forcing the retainingdevice lengthwise of the stem. The action of the spring on the two parts of the retaining device will tend to force the stop engaging parts 9 thereof inwardly and as soon as these parts have cleared the shoulder 7 they will spring into engagement therewith and, when the upward pressure thereon has been relieved, will remain in engagement with the shoulder 7 and support the s ning on the valve stem under compression. The constructibn of the device is such that the action of the spring thereon will firmly hold the same in operative engagement with the stem at all times and will not permit the same to be disconnected from the stem by vibration or jars imparted thereto. To disconnect the retaininc; device from the stem and permit the removal of the spring it is only necessary to insert the bit of a screw driver in the recess 15 at one end of the device and twist the same, thereby imparting pivotal movement to the two nembers and moving the parts 9 out of engagement with the shoulder and thus permitting the s nking to move the retaining device downwardly past the stop on the stem.

lVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifhcation may occur to a person skilled in the art.

' Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. A device for'retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two members shaped to receive the valve stem between them and to form a seat for the spring, and having parts movable into and out of engagement with a stop on said valve stem, and each having lugs extending from the opposite edges thereof lengthwise of saidspring, and means for pivotally connecting the adjacent lugs of the two members one to the other at points'spaced from the seat for said sprin 2. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two members shaped to receive the valve stem between them and to form a seat for the spring, and having parts movable into and out of engagement with a stop on said valve stem, and each having lugs extending from the opposite edges thereof lengthwise of said spring, and connecting members pivotally connected with the adjacent lugs at the respective ends of said members to pivotally connect said members one to the other.

3. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two members shaped to receive the valve stem between them and to form a seat for the spring, and having parts movable into and out of engagement with a stop on said valve stem, and each having lugs extending from the opposite ends thereof lengthwise of said spring, the corresponding lugs at the respective ends of said members having abutting parts to form fulcrums about which said members may move, and connecting devices to hold said corresponding lugs against bodily displacement relative one to the other but to permit of their pivotal movement about said fulcrums.

at. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two members shaped to receive the valve stem between them and to form a seat for the spring, and having parts movable into and out of engagement with a stop on said valve stem, and each having lugs extending from the opposite ends thereof lengthwise of said spring, the corresponding lugs at the respective ends of said members having cooperating parts to form fulcrums about which said members may move, and connecting members ror said corresponding members, each loosely connected at its ends with the respective lugs.

5. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two members shaped to receive the valve stem between them and to form a seat for the spring, and having parts movable into and out of engagement with a stop on said valve stem, and each having lugs extending from the opposite ends thereof lengthwise of said spring, the

corresponding lugs at the respective ends of said members having cooperating parts to form fulcrums about which said members may move and having slots therethrough, and clips for connecting the corresponding lugs one to the other, each of said clips having end portions extending through and loosely mounted in the slots in the respective lugs. V

6. A device for retaining a spring on a. valve stem, comprising two members shaped to receive the valve stem between them and to form a seat for the spring, and having parts movable into ancL out of engagement with a stop on said valve stem, and each having lugs extending from the opposite ends thereoflengthwise of said spring, and connecting members pivotally connected with the adjacent lugs at the respective ends of said members to pivotally connect said members one to the other, said adjacent lugs having those parts thereof, which are adjacent to the seat for said spring spaced apart to receive an implement for moving the same relatively one to the other.

7. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two substantially semi-circular members arranged edge to edge to form a support for the spring and having opposed recesses in their adjacent edges to receive a valve stem, each of said members having a downwardly extending part at the edge of said opening to engage a stop on said valve stem, and each of said members having at its opposite ends lugs extending lengthwise of said spring, and means for pivotally connecting the lugs at the adjacent ends of the two members one to the other.

8. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising a concave-convex spring supporting washer divided diametrically into two parts, said parts having opposed recesses in their adjacent edges to receive a valve stem and having downturned flanges surrounding said recesses and arranged toengage a stop on the valve stem, and also having their outer edges turned upwardly to form a seat for the spring, each part ofsaid washer having lugs extending upwardly from the opposite ends thereof, and means for pivot-ally connecting the lugs at the adjacent ends of the two parts one to the other.

9. A device for retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two substantially semi-circular members, each formed from a single sheet of metal, having a recess in its inner edge to embrace the valve stem and having a downturned flange extending about said recess to engage a stop on said valve stem, each of said members sloping downwardly toward the peripheral edge thereof and having said peripheral edge turned upwardly to form a seat for a spring, each of said members also having ears extending upwardly from the opposite ends thereof, and means for pivotally connecting the adjacent ears of the two members one to the other.

10. A device for-retaining a spring on a valve stem, comprising two substantially semi-circular members each formed from a single sheet of metal, having a recess in its inner edge to embrace the valve stem and having a downturned flange extendingabout said recess to engage a stop on said valve stem, each of said members sloping downwardly toward the peripheral edge thereof and having said peripheral edge turned upwardly to form a seat for a spring, each of said members also having ears extending upwardly from the opposite ends thereof, and means "for pivotally connecting the adjacent ears of the two members one to the other, said adjacent ears having parts thereof spaced one from the other to receive an implement by means of which said members may be moved with relation one to the other to disconnect the same from said valve stem.

in testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

FREDERECK C. NICKOL. 

